We lost time because tyre exploded: Ardavichus

A tyre puncture was the reason of the 220-minute delay of Kazakhstan team Astana at the 11th stage of Dakar, Tengrinews.kz reports. “Our right back wheel's type exploded in the canyon. The truck got onto a big rock. There was a loud snap. We lost 11 minutes changing the wheel in the dust. We were the first to start, but put everyone have drove passed us while we were there with the tyre. We got pushed back in the stage, but we are at the same place in the general classification. We are holding on to this position really hard. Hopefully we will not give it up,” Astana pilot Arthur Ardavichus said. According to the racer, three stages before the end of the race the competition escalates with every minute. “People start fighting for seconds. This is a real battle. Plus general fatigue of metal, cars and people. There is less rest and more loads,” the racer added. During the 11th stage Dakar participants crossed the border of Chile and Peru. The route included mountainous areas. “Everyone is scared of lacets. I try not to look down and at our back wheels that sometimes get off the road. Yes, it is scary, but we are thinking about it, we need to press on and move further,” Kazakhstan racer said. The 12th stage of the famous race is held today, on January 13, between Arequipa and Nasca cities in Peru. Astana is ranked 3rd in the general classification of Dakar. Dutch racer Gerard De Rooy is the leader. Ardavichus is 1 hour 20 minutes 9 seconds behind the leader.